Chapter 1
Pulling my jacket even tighter around my body, I pushed through the throng of people on the long line and headed straight for the front. It was a flimsy jacket and I was wearing an even flimsier little dress underneath it so there was no helping when it came to this night’s cold breeze anyway. As a werewolf, the cold shouldn’t even bother me but I think it was less of the cold and more of the scene I just witnessed.
Flashing my VIP card in front of the familiar bouncer, I walked into the club after he gave me a small nod and stepped out of the way for me to pass. The loud music hit my sensitive ears immediately before I slowly adjusted my hearing so that it was just loud enough to get the club experience without going deaf in the process. Breezing past the razz people downstairs, I walked to the door at the side and without bothering to ask for my access card, the bouncer moved aside, opening the door which led to stairs that led to the VIP lounge.
Knowing exactly what I needed, I made a beeline for the bar, my heels going click-clack on the hardwood floor drawing the attention of just about everyone in the room. My lips turned up slightly in a small smirk. Perfect.
Hopping onto an empty bar stool, making my gown hike up so that it was just managing to cover my lady parts, I leaned forward, making sure an ample amount of cleavage was out there. I had long lost my jacket. It had been taken off me by one of the bouncers like always and like always, it would be returned to me before I left.
“Um…what would you like?” The bartender asked. He was new, I noted and he was cute.
“Double scotch on ice.”
He nodded and went to prepare my order, so I decided to look around. I could sense the eyes of half the population of men in this room on me. They were wary, I realized. I had not come in with Ryder as usual but I was still the scary old me so they were contemplating whether or not to make a move. I heard someone clear his throat beside me so I turned, my eyes falling on the blonde, blue-eyed cupid seated on the stool beside me.
One glance at me and my mind was already screaming ‘not your type!’. I chuckled internally but decided I should play nice tonight. “Hey, handsome.” I smiled as the bartender chose that moment to set my drink down in front of me.
“Hey, you.” The man smiled back, obviously glad to not have been ignored. “You waiting for someone?”
I knew he was talking about Ryder which meant he was a regular. I wasn’t with Ryder today though. Maybe when he was done f*cking my best friend he’ll find me. I hoped not. “No,” I replied Cupid downing my drink in one go and sliding the cup back to the bartender for a refill.
I was barely listening to what blue-eyed Cpid was saying, downing one glass after the other until he grabbed my wrist, “Stop. You’ve drank far too much. You could get alcohol poisoning or something.”
My jaw ticked and I yanked my hand away from his hold, “Nobody tells me what to do, Cupid. Didn’t you know that?” I said, making to get up with my latest glass of whisky.
“Um, my name’s not–”
“Drop dead,” I growled before strutting off.
It was his fault for mentioning Ryder, indirectly or not, making me relive the experience of walking in on my boyfriend and best friend having s*x like animals. I had kept my circle small, not needing a single bit of unnecessary drama in my life and unable to bring myself to trust so easily. I had trusted those two though, and together they had betrayed me like it was nothing.
Downing the glass and dropping it down on the nearest surface, I smiled when I noticed my body begin to feel lighter. I swayed with the music, leading myself deeper into the plethora of dancing bodies, grabbing champagne flutes from the servers gliding by. The goal was to get ‘shit-faced drunk’ and I wasn’t there yet.
The next thing I felt was a large hand on my ass. I smirked at his boldness. My earlier flirting obviously hadn’t gone unnoticed by the men. Following the beat, I grinded against him. Feeling his crotch harden immediately my ass came in contact with it through his pants.
His scent filled my senses before I saw him, red-faced and satisfyingly livid, “What are you doing, Bella?” He growled and the guy behind me instantly let go of my waist.
“Busted.” He laughed before stalking off.
“Let go of me!” I growled back, my words coming out a bit slurred, trying to shrug off his hand from where it clamped on my arm but his grip was too strong, and painful even like he was trying to purposely hurt me.
“We need to talk, please. Let’s get out of here.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you! Now let go of me before I lose it!” I growled, feeling my wolf slowly rising to the surface.
“Calm down Bella.” He said, his voice calmer now, “You’re really drunk. Let’s get you home before you do more stuff you’ll regret.”
My jaw ticked and I would have begun to yell about how I wouldn’t regret anything since his unfaithful ass decided to sleep with my best friend first, but just then, a hand slid around my waist making my mouth clamp shut immediately.
“She obviously doesn’t want to go with you, so leave.” The stranger said, in a tone that made me weak at the knees…or maybe that was just the alcohol?
Ryder’s grey eyes went wide, “Bella…”
“Leave!”
Ryder’s face hardened before he turned, pushing past people as he angrily stormed off. Shifting in his arm which was still wrapped around my waist, I looked up to catch a glimpse of my knight in shining armor.
My self-control instantly betrayed me and I felt my lips part of their own accord as I took in the handsome creature in front of me. He was taller than Ryder by a good margin and stood tall as well. He wore a plain white button-down, tucked into a pair of black slacks. His first three buttons were undone and I placed my hand on his chest, inching my crotch into his. His deep brown eyes met mine and I smirked, grinding into him and not breaking eye contact.
His eyes suddenly hardened. He let go of my waist and removed my hand from his body. I felt something draw me back to him but it must be the alcohol speaking so I ignored it. He obviously wasn’t interested and drunk or not, I’d be damned if I threw myself on a man who didn’t want me.
“Where do you live?”
I raised a brow, ignoring the feeling that deep s*xy voice of his brought me. Then I smirked, did he want to follow me home? To my bed?
I bit my lip, getting on my tiptoes to whisper it into his ears, making sure to brush my breasts against him and nip at his ear before dropping back down to my heels. I smiled when I saw his eyes darken and let out a small gasp when he suddenly gripped my arm and led me out of the club.
“Where’s your car?” He asked and I hid a blush, feeling my panties soak through.
What was he doing to me? I pressed the button on my keys and the tail lights flashed. Grabbing the keys from me, he still held on to my hand as he led them to the car.
I gave him directions to my place, all the while trying to control my overwhelming need. When did I become such a horny drunk? Or was it just him? We finally got to my building and once he parked, I turned to him.
“I want you.” I whispered, “My parents are freakishly rich.” I added, glancing up at the building I lived in for emphasis. “I could pay you whatever you want.”
His jaw ticked and I found it a bit laughable, did he feel insulted? “Do I look like a prostitute?”
I chuckled, “Maybe not. But I want you and what I want I get. So if it takes a little bit of money for me to have you f*ck me tonight, then so be it.”
He gave me a long look, his dark hair falling into his hardened eyes before he turned off the engine and pushed open his door. I felt my heart hammer in my chest as he walked around the car. Stopping in front of my door, he yanked it open and pulled me into his arms, my lips parting in a gasp as he hoisted me up, my legs dangling at his side and his hands supporting my ass.
“You talk too much.” He growled before slamming his mouth onto mine.
